There just isn't much to do now. Joker and I talked to fill the silence until I was called away. My therapy session with Kelly went well. She's encouraging me to loosen up. I asked her "what do you mean?" She went on about how my no lying rule was outlandish. It's not a rule, but a habit I learned from other energy people. We can tell when one is lying, but there are things we find uncomfortable discussing so we learn these workarounds and it's a permanent personality feature at this point.
Let's see, I went down and traded war stories with Zaheed again, and showed him my favorite gun, meditating with Samara, trying to convince Jack to join us, chatting with Garrus, then I made dinner. Kasumi helped. It's fun having someone handy in the kitchen. Our krogan is growing up and is in the asking questions stage. During dinner, Grunt asked what the difference between a boy and a man was. Shepard, Garrus, and Thane made some wise idioms. Grunt wanted to hear from me. Like it wasn't obvious. The price of our toys.
Kasumi stayed to clean up while I went to deliver pancakes to Tali. Replicates this time, not made from scratch. She'll never know. I was just about to walk in and that's when her father bumped into me. Accidentally I presumed, although this triggered my instincts and I growled at him. Tali yelled at me to stop and for her father to leave. We both listened.
"Sorry about that. Anyways I was bored and brought you your favorite" I wave the pancakes in front of that royal purple face, then used my telekinesis to make the heavenly dish float in front of those big white eyes. She grabs it and puts it aside.
"Thank you *********. I'll have these later with my dad." she said.
"I made them for you" [only you].
Tali closes her console "I know, but please try being nicer to him, he's my dad."
Gabby shouts from her console "it's not like he's hurting anyone." Those geth would disagree.
Ken yells "Don't let that buckethead put your panties in a bunch."
Tali touches my arm to steal my attention "nevermind them. What are you doing here?"
"I'm bored so I'm entertaining myself by talking to people since I'm unofficially grounded. Shepard thinks it would be best going forwards, everyone else goes on missions to prepare themselves. I'm already at my peak and would like to keep my abilities secret from the rest of the galaxy so there is no point in me going. But I am so bored!"
"Enjoy the peace while it lasts" she said.
I confess "I have a hard time doing that."
"You'll find a way. I believe in you" her words touch me.
"Ohyujusduhsweetest. Thanks Tali. I appreciate that. You should eat those while they are still warm."
Ken laughs "the lad scarfs them down over the engine and one of us has to pick the crumbs out."
Tali turns "you haven't seen my face have you? I should explain, for quarians, showing our faces is a–"
"Oh I know what it means" a devilish smile emerges.
"You do?!" she says.
"Oh yeah. A gesture of trust and a willingness for INTIMACY. You going to tell him?" I make the kissies with my finger tips.
Tali nervously plays with her fingers "tell who?"
"Shepard."
Tali's head pulls back "What?"
"I played the game I've seen how this can go" she deserves a home on Rannoch.
Tali looks away "I-I um. Well. I don't really like him like that."
"Really? A lone woman is rescued by a dashing commander who lets him join his crew and goes off to save the galaxy. You developed no interest in him?"
Tali stares directly at me and raises her voice "Did you read my mind?"
"No. Didn't have to. It's a line from the game. It's bad to lie. You have a crush on him."
"No, I don't. Ok... fine... yes, I had a little one for him for a while… but... my heart fell for someone else" OH another universe change. I wonder how this will go. Maybe I should shut up. Nah.
"Oh. Must be Garrus then." Tali shakes her head.
"Eww. Just I-Uh. Eww. No way. Never. Never ever. Why would you even think that?" she asked.
"Well because Fleet and Flotilla is your favorite movie? Tv show? Right?" Tali awkwardly steps back.
"Sorry, that must have been too personal. Well, if it isn't Garrus, then… Thane?"
"No."
"... Mordin? He's apparently the ladies man."
Ken shouts "You must be kidding!"
"I'm not. Well, if it's not them, who is it?"
…
Gabby yells "for someone five times Samara's age you are totally blind." Dang it! I know what she's referring to and I was hoping to avoid this. I look over to the quarian engineer. Her legs are crossed, and her elegant arms props her up from the console. The curves of her abdomen awaken my lower instincts. PUMP THE ENERGY BACK UP!
"I never knew if there would come a chance and you always seemed so hesitant. I didn't know how I should start." her head tilts up to me. I try hard to suppress my smile but can't.
"Uh-Um. Should we talk about this somewhere private?" I asked.
"What's wrong with here?" Tali asked.
"Because we have witnesses" I refer to thing one and thing two.
"They'll just listen with the microphones in the engine core room. Those two love gossip."
"She's right" they both said. Blink. Blink.
"Ok fine, this feels weird with people watching but whatever. Tali, I'm flattered, truly I am. But I think you should find someone a tad more age appropriate." I'm trying to be gentle about this.
"I don't care how old you really are. Besides, you can be childish at times. I think it's endearing." Oh god I'm about to blush. Breathe man breathe.
"As tempting as that is, if you want, I think you'd be much happier with Shepard. I'm just looking out for your future happiness. You deserve that" Tali cocks her head. Her reaction feels off.
"I don't think he knows" Ken says.
"Yeah, he doesn't know. We keep forgetting he doesn't know everything" Gabby says.
I look back and forth to everyone "What? What is it?"
Tali answers "Shepard is in a relationship with Liara. A serious one."
"He is? I thought he was dating Ashley. I went to wake Shepard for breakfast back on the original Normandy and heard a woman's voice in his room, couldn't tell who, then when we met Kaiden and Ashley on the colony she was distraught. Why didn't anyone tell me! This is his universe and the boss. I was being considerate." I pull out my omnitool and call Shepard.
The spectre answers "What's wrong *********? It's unlike you to call."
"Are you dating Liara?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"You should have told me! I would have done things a bit different."
"Didn't you know?"
"NO! I thought you dated Ashley, and your long nap made you a sad bachelor."
"Dating her would be against the regulations and I never liked her like that."
"So, you have no interest in Tali? It's your ship you get first crack at it" Tali lightly slaps my arm.
"She's cute and smart and all, but I'm in love with Liara, if it wasn't with her then I'd might" he said.
"Tali heard that."
"What?! Don't tell Liara I said that."
"She's got you whipped huh?"
"I'm sorry did you say whipped? What does that mean?"
"She's trained you and you won't step out of line."
Gabby shouts "what are you talking about? Were men ruled by women in your universe?"
"Essentially yeah. We had a shadow matriarchy."
Shepard firmly states "I'm in a happy loving equal relationship with Liara. There is no one else I'd rather be with."
"Want me to send this to her? She'd be smitten. Do you know what she actually looks like?" Shepard hangs up. Now that I think about it, I don't know what Liara really looks like.
"Well, that happened" Ken said.
I put down my arm and Tali is excited. She does this adorable thing where he just briefly stands on her toes and extends her arms momentarily. Dear cosmic consciousness how can someone be so freaking cute then so freaking sexy!? The enticing quarian engineer comes close.
"So does mean we can…" Gods I want to, but I still feel weird. One of my rules is to never date the main characters. I'm weird but not that kind of weird.
"I knew you had feelings for me like nearly every other woman in this ship, but I don't think what you're feeling is real."
"How could you say that? Why wouldn't my feelings be real?"
"Experience. This happened to me before and a patterned formed. What exactly do you like about me? Was there even a moment that made you for fall in love with me?
"... There wasn't one."
"See yo-"
"It was a series of moments. While I wouldn't call what I feel love just yet, but bit by bit you captured my heart. You are the most wonderful kind compassionate man I will ever meet, and I want you. Not Shepard. You. *********. You make me feel safe, so so happy just being around you, and I feel so many wonderful things which I want to make you feel too. I care for you *********. Long before I knew about what you are. My feelings for you are genuine and I would never hurt you. Please give me a chance. " I feel small exploding packets of energy in my upper lungs, which feels oddly nice. Wait… fireworks in the chest. Those are real?
"I still feel odd about this."
Tali steps back. Crosses her arms and looks down. "Is it because I'm a quarian?" Her sad voice activates something powerful and protective inside me.
My eyes grow wide "What! No!" I step closer and take her three fingered hands into my own. Staring deeply into her LED eyes "Tali, you are one of the sweetest, most caring people I've ever met. You're kind, considerate, always willing to help out and even more, you hate it when others get hurt. I feel so comfortable being around such an empathetic soul. Tali, you are absolutely amazing." woah where did this weird heat I felt come from?
Her fingers tighten her hold. "Really?"
"Yes really. You are ridiculously adorable yet strong and confident. You can have anyone you want. Why me?"
"Because I fell for you. You helped me out in so many different ways and made my life so much better and I can't ever repay you. You taught me how to breathe to calm my nerves."
"I would have taught that to anyone."
"You cook for me."
"I like to cook."
"You threw that salarian into the lake" hehe.
Gabby blurts "What?!
"You need to stop putting yourself down. You saved my life multiple times. You saved my Father's life."
"I was keeping a promise. That is all. I'm not expecting anything in return."
Tali lets go of my hands and turns away, but still able to see me in her peripheral vison "Do you not want me?"
I'm going to open up here. I hate feeling emotionally vulnerable, but she deserves it "Tali… It's very important to me that you actually want this too."
…
"I do. I really do" her fingers do the best they can to intertwine within my own. The biggest smile I've had in a thousand years is in full view for her to witness.
"Ok Tali, you convinced me. The next time we stop at a space station I'll take you on a date."
"REALLY?! You mean it? You're not toying with me?"
"Yes really. I promise you won't regret this."
"I know you keep your word. I have to get back to work. Thanks for coming by and talking" she squeezes my hands once more and returns to work. I turn and start to walk out when I hear Gabby and Ken awwing. Thing one is clapping and thing two is ginving me the thumbs up. This feels embarrassing confessing my vulnerable emotions in front of two people who shouldn't be involved.
"Shut up or I'll spill your secret Ken." I might have to help Ken get Gabby early.
I walk out the door. I clench my fists in joy then raise them high. I can't contain the energy inside and it transmute it into a little hop of celebration. Did this actually happen? Usually, women are much more direct and straight to the point with me. This was a rare event. I'm so freaking happy. I got to plan my date. Maybe dancing, dinner, OH! Walk around the shops and… shit! I have no money.
"EDI, where is Shepard?"
"He is talking with Garrus in your quarters."
"Thanks EDI." I phase throw the floor and sprint towards my room, almost knocking Chakwas down. I found my bros Shepard and Garrus. I repeatedly pound on the door until they open.
Garrus opens the door and is surprised to see it's my worried face "********* what happened? Why do you look panicked?"
"Guys. Guys, I need your help!" my hands are shaking.
"You need our help? What can we possibly do that you can't" Shepard asked.
"Ok this just happened. Long story short Tali and I are going on a date."
Garrus sits down on my luxurious twin bed and smiles "so it finally happened huh. Why didn't you ask her out sooner?"
"I thought Shepard was going to make a move eventually. He wasn't interested in Jack or Miri."
Garrus laughs "he's with Liara."
"I didn't know until Tali told me after she confessed her feelings."
Shepard says "We'll I'm glad you're happy. You two always had this close special bond. This is hilarious, I thought you knew about me and Liara since you teased us back in her office."
"NOOO. I was screwing with you then or so I thought. Well even if you are dating Liara, that doesn't exactly stop you from making a move."
Garrus looks at the wide grinned spectre and says "He's engaged to Liara."
"You are?!"
Shepard clears up a misunderstanding "No it's not like that. We have a very deep bond, but we are not at that stage. It's different for asari. No weddings just yet and I don't need you planning anything. Put that binder back wherever you pulled it from. Back to the matter at hand. What did you need our help with?"
"I'm not from this universe. I don't know what alien girls like or where I should take them for a date, and I got no money. What am I supposed to wear? What's the fashion trends in this universe? Can I please borrow some cash? I promise to work it off."
Shepard laughs and starts to transfer the money. "Relax this is Tali, she'll be jumping off the walls just being next to you. This is perfect timing. Thane's son is at the citadel and we're going there now. Liara's sister runs a pretty good karaoke place there. You should take Tali there. I'm transferring you 100,000 credits. Don't worry about paying me back. You earned it."
Blink. Blink. "Liara has a sister? One she knows?"
"Yeah, several, why?"
"She never met them in the game."
"After her mom died, her father, the asari that didn't give birth to her, made contact and then she became close with her extended family."
"Huh. They weren't supposed to meet till later. Weird day. Thanks for the credits. How much is this?"
Garrus says "it's 100,000 credits. You should be thrilled."
"I misspoke. What is the purchasing power? I've been to places where a penny gets you five pieces of candy and others where a 100 billion marks cost a loaf of bread. The number is irrelevant. What can I get with this?"
Garrus says "You could pay upfront for a nice condo on the citadel for that much and have some to spare."
"SHEPARD! This is way too much. It must be a few million bucks to afford one of those. I can't accept this."
"It's a condo not a kidney, calm down *********" Shepard says.
EDI appears "I believe ********* is referring to the housing bubbles of the early twenty first century. For a time, houses were used for a store of wealth, pricing many would be buyers out of the market. Regulations were put in place, in addition technologies such as underground farming to free up land, metallurgy strengthening steel enabling increasing maximum skyscraper height along increase accessibility due to skycars, human expansion in colonization combined with citadel influences on living standards, and space station residential living has made houses, condos, and apartments the cheapest in history and is expected to further decrease."
I grab hold of Shepard and Garrus and hug them tight. I'm trembling with euphoria. I'm about to cry.
"I LOVE THIS UNIVERSE!" they awkwardly pat my immensely grateful back.
